WEVA/Introduction to ICT
 Objectives
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In this tutorial we will:
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What is ICT?
ICT is an acronym that stands for Information Communications Tecnology. ICT is about digital information passing between devices. The most prolific example is the Internet, a worldwide network of computers linked together by telephone lines. There are, however, other examples like mobile phones, interactive television and personal organisers.
Importance of ICT
When ICT is applied in businesses it can lower costs, raise productivity and improve customer & supplier relationships. In learning, ICT widens participation and raises attainment. In public services, ICT engages people with services more effectively and in communities ICT links people to economic opportunity and brings together those with common agendas.
Lets focus on the three words behind ICT:
- INFORMATION
- COMMUNICATIONS
- TECHNOLOGY
A good way to think about ICT is to consider all the uses of digital technology that already exist to help individuals, businesses and organisations use information.
ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a digital form. For example, personal computers, digital television, email, robots.
So ICT is concerned with the storage, retrieval, manipulation, transmission or receipt of digital data. Importantly, it is also concerned with the way these different uses can work with each other.
In business, ICT is often categorised into two broad types of product: -
- The traditional computer-based technologies (things you can typically do on a personal computer or using computers at home or at work); and
- The more recent, and fast-growing range of digital communication technologies (which allow people and organisations to communicate and share information digitally)
Let's take a brief look at these two categories to demonstrate the kinds of products and ideas that are covered by ICT:
Traditional Computer Based Technologies
These types of ICT include:
Standard Office Applications - Main Examples
| APPLICATION | USE |
|---|---|
| Word processing | E.g. Microsoft Word: Write letters, reports etc |
| Spreadsheets | E.g. Microsoft Excel; Analyse financial information; calculations; create forecasting models etc |
| Database software | E.g. Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Access; Managing data in many forms, from basic lists (e.g. customer contacts through to complex material (e.g. catalogue) |
